Appliance support

ABSTRACT

Roll-out apparatus for major appliances such as domestic refrigerators in the form of a plurality of low, multi-wheel bogeys for insertion in supporting relation beneath the appliance includes the provision of steering arms extending from the accessible front bogeys to permit pivoting of the respective bogeys in steering relation relative to the appliance. The steering bogey upper surfaces are recessed to receive foot portions of the appliance therein. The less accessible bogeys may be provided with a contact cement upper surface, for affixing to the appliance. Also the bogeys may be provided with a resilient layer to serve as a spring load transfer relation, transverse loads being transferred by shear pins where appropriate.

United States Patent [191 Browning a APPLIANCE SUPPORT [76] Inventor: Stanley Albert Charles Browning,

1 RR. No. 1, Glen Williams, Ontario,

Canada [22] Filed: Aug. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 384,454

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 18, 1973 Canada 174321 [52] US. Cl. 280/47.1l,-1'6/23 [51] Int. Cl B60b 33/04 [58] Field of Search 280/4711, 47.32, 79; 16/22, 23

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,518,288 8/1950 Coutant 280/47.ll

3,003,l79 10/1961 Descarries ..280/47.32X

h1] 3,822,892 [451 July9, 1974 Primary Examiner--M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar

[ ABSTRACT Roll-out apparatus for major appliances such as do mestic refrigerators in the form of a plurality of low,

multi-wheel bogeys for insertion in supporting relationbeneath the appliance includes the provision of steering arms extending from the accessible front bogeys to permit pivoting of the respective bogeys in steering relation relative to the appliance. The steering bogey upper surfaces are recessed to receive foot portions of the appliance therein. The less accessible bogeys may be provided with a contact cement upper surface, for affixing to the appliance. Also the bogeys may be provided with a resilient layer to serve as a spring load transfer relation, transverse loads being transferred by shear pins where appropriate.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures I APPLIANCE SUPPORT This invention is directed to roll-out apparatus for providing roll-out capability to major appliances, such as domestic appliances, the apparatus including steering provision. I

The use of roll-out bogeys in conjunction with domestic refrigerators, ranges and other 'major appliances is well known, the prior art including pairs of rodconnected bogeys in extensible relation with a slide-rod arrangement to permit a pair of bogeys-to be fitted in supporting fore-and-aft relation beneath each side of an appliance, so that the appliance can be rolled in a forward and reverse direction. This earlier arrangement suffers from a number of practical disadvantages such as the need to adjust the front-to-back dimension between the bogeys in order to fit in acceptable loadtransfer relation beneath the appliance.

The rigidity of the bogey structures tends to produce unequal loan transfer, so that there is always a tendency for one of the bogeys to slip out of position. This tendency is further emphasized by an absence of steering provision so that any attempt to correct the line of travel of the appliance on its bogeys often results in displacement of one or more bogeys out of satisfactorily engaged relation with the appliance, with the conseqeunt disruption to motion and often tipping-off of the appliance. Secondly, the present dispositionof the front locking screws is such that the bogey alignment isnot parallel to the sides. The front screws are inward of the appliances side walls so that there is a toe-in effect. As a consequence the levelling screws slide from off the bogey. A further disadvantage is the tendency of the present bogey to telescope. When the load is unevenly distributed between the front and rear wheels the bogey is caused to telescope with a' consequence imbalance.

The present invention provides a steerable roll-out apparatus wherein the front bogeys may be selectively steered by means of steering arms. The steering capability also permits the steering arms to be stowed beneath the appliance, being turned inwardly therebeneath. This in turn provides a breaking effect to the appliance, to substantially preclude inadvertant displacement, as the front bogeys are locked in a parked direction at right angles to the usual roll-out direction, thereby precluding undesired forward or reverse motion of the appliance.

There is further provided a resilient pad, usually incorporated in the non-steering bogeys, to improve load transfer characteristics between the floor surface and the appliance.

A further innovative feature is the provision of an adhesive top surface to readily secure the non-steering bogeys to the appliance. In the case of the steering bogeys there is provided a suitable recess into which the usual adjustable pad feet of the appliance may be located, which serves to locate the bogey beneath the appliance while permitting pivoting of the bogey in steering and parking relation relative to the appliance.

Certain embodiments of the invention are described, reference being made to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement showing a portion of an appliance (in phantom) having the subject rollout apparatus in mounted relation therebeneath;

foot pad; and

FIG. 2 is a general view, partially sectioned of a steerable bogey .in inserted relation beneath an appliance FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a non-steering bogey showing details of the resilient mounting arrangement and the contact adhesive top coat.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a portion of acabinet 20 of a domestic major appliance such as a refrigerator or a cooking stove is shown in phantom, having a pair of steerable bogeys l0, l0 and fixed bogeys I2, 12 mounted respectively to the front and rear of the appliance 20. j

The bogeys 10 each have a steering arm 14, illustrated in the parked position and shown also in phantom in operative positions.

In FIG. 2, the steerable bogey '10 has a steering arm 14 rigidly secured to the skirt of 18 of the bogey chassis 16.

The chassis 16 is of inverted box form, having a longitudinal rib or web 22 which serves to reinforce the chassis and provides intermediate support for the twin axles 24 on which are mounted eight roller-wheels 26.

The top face 28 of the chassis 18 has a dished depressed surface 30 wherein is received an adjustable foot portion 35 of the appliance 20. This arrangement serves to permit centering of the foot 35 for rotation of the bogey l0 about the vertical axis of the appliance foot 35, the multiple wheels 26 permitting relatively unrestricted pivotal movement on application of a turning movement of the arm 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, thefixed bogeys 12 are of generally similar construction to the steerable bogey 10, with reference to the lower portion of the chassis 18, wheels 26, axles 24 and control web 22. The fixed bogeys 12, however, are surmounted by a cushion 32 of resilient foam material capped in the illustrated embodiment by a stiff pad 34 for distributing the load. A pair of pins 36 located at diagonal corners of the bogey l2 permit vertical compression of the cushion 32 under load, while transmitting all transverse loads from the load pad 34 to the chassis l8.

The pad 34 has a layer of contact adhesive 38 thereon, covered by a readily removable protective diaphragm 40,

It is contemplated that the stiffness of the load pad 34 may be selected to permit conforming thereof to the mating surface of the appliance, so as to increase the effective adhesion of the bogey l2 thereto.

Reverting to FIG. 1, it will be understood with the fixed bogeys l2 oriented for motion in a forward and backward direction and with the steerable bogeys 10 in a parked position having the rolls 26 pointed for transverse motion only, that any tendency for the appliance to move in a forward or backward direction is virtually overcome by the braking effect of the sideways turned wheels 26 of bogey 10.

It will be noted from FIG. 2, that the symmetrical location of the spherical surface or seat 30 in relation to the multiple wheels 26 substantially precludes any castoring action, to'provide maximum stability to the system, with a neutral steering characteristic.

What I claim is: Y

1. Roll-out apparatus for providing roll-out capability to a major appliance, comprising a plurality of lowprofile bogeys for positioning instable supporting relation between an appliance and a floor surface, each bogey having a chassis, with first roll means rotatable about a first horizontal axis of rotation and second roll means rotatable about a second axis parallel therewith to transfer stable rolling support through said chassis from the floor surface to a downward load exerted by a said appliance, at least one of said bogeys having steering arm means extending from the chassis thereof, and chassis location means for locating the chassis beneath an extended portion of a said appliance to permit controlled individual pivotal movement of the bogey about a vertical axis for providing steering direction to the appliance, and parking restraint when in a stowed position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis location means includes a top portion of said chassis having a recessed surface portion thereof to receive said extended portion of a said appliance in pivotal relation relative thereto sufficient to permit disposal of said steering arm means beneath the appliance.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis of at least some of said bogeys includes a resilient layer arranged in compressive load receiving relation relative to a said appliance when positioned therebeneath, to improve load transfer to the bogey.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bogey has an adhesive upper portion for attachment to a said appliance.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a plurality of non-steerable bogeys each having a chassis portion provided with a substantially rigid upper layer having a contact cement coating thereon for affixing to a said appliance, a deformable resilient layer connecting the upper layer to a lower portion of the chassis in vertically resilient load transfer relation therewith, and load pin means interconnecting the upper layer to the chassis lower portion in horizontal load transfer relation therewith to limit the application of horizontally acting shearing loads against said resilient layer. 

1. Roll-out apparatus for providing roll-out capability to a major appliance, comprising a plurality of low-profile bogeys for positioning instable supporting relation between an appliance and a floor surface, each bogey having a chassis, with first roll means rotatable about a first horizontal axis of rotation and second roll means rotatable about a second axis parallel therewith to transfer stable rolling support through said chassis from the floor surface to a downward load exerted by a said appliance, at leaSt one of said bogeys having steering arm means extending from the chassis thereof, and chassis location means for locating the chassis beneath an extended portion of a said appliance to permit controlled individual pivotal movement of the bogey about a vertical axis for providing steering direction to the appliance, and parking restraint when in a stowed position.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis location means includes a top portion of said chassis having a recessed surface portion thereof to receive said extended portion of a said appliance in pivotal relation relative thereto sufficient to permit disposal of said steering arm means beneath the appliance.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis of at least some of said bogeys includes a resilient layer arranged in compressive load receiving relation relative to a said appliance when positioned therebeneath, to improve load transfer to the bogey.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bogey has an adhesive upper portion for attachment to a said appliance.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a plurality of non-steerable bogeys each having a chassis portion provided with a substantially rigid upper layer having a contact cement coating thereon for affixing to a said appliance, a deformable resilient layer connecting the upper layer to a lower portion of the chassis in vertically resilient load transfer relation therewith, and load pin means interconnecting the upper layer to the chassis lower portion in horizontal load transfer relation therewith to limit the application of horizontally acting shearing loads against said resilient layer. 